Kite.



No. 666,427. Patented Ian. 22, l90l.

C. H. LAMSON.

KITE.

(Application filed Ms.y 9, 1900.; {No Model.)

3 Shae ts-Sh'aet I.

No. 666,427. Patented .Ian. 22, I901.

, C. H. LAMSUN.

KITE.

' [Application filed May 9, 1900.) (NQMOdBL) 3 Shaaty-Shmat 2,

Patented Ian. 22', l90l. C. H. LARSON.

. KITE.

(Application filed May 9, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

W W M Unites Starts ATENT FFICE.

KITE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666, 27, dated January22, 90

Applioation filed May 9, 1900. Serial No. 16,003. (No model.) I

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. LAMSON, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and. a resident or Portland, in the county of Gumberland andState of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inKites, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to what are known as ribbed aeroourve kites; and itis particu larly designed for use in carrying aloft meteorologicalinstruments for making observations in the upper atmosphere and forother like purposes. These kites have curved wings or planes which inflight are kept in a position slightly inclined to the horizontal by atail or rudder, which may be in the rear or both front and rear, theproper conformation of the wings being rigidly maintained by curved ribssuitably spread.

One object of the present invention is to construct a kite of this classso that it may be closely packed for shipment or handling, and also sothat the inclination of the wings may be readily adjusted and balancedone against the other.

A further object is to prevent the kite from diving or turning over onits side or flying at an angle with the direction of the wind in case itis out of balance or for any other reason.

These objects I attain by means of the features hereinafter shown anddescribed.

I illustrate my invention by means of the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a perspective view of my kite with the covering andwire edges removed from the upper wing on one side. Fig. 2 is I avertical section taken through one wing from the tip to the base. Fig. 3is a perspective view of a modification of one of the details, and Fig.4 is a perspective view showing the general appearance of the kite.

As shown, the kite is composed of an elongated frame A, forming the heelor center, with one or more wings composed, preferably, of curvedsurfaces extending out at each side in a generally horizontal position,and a tail or rudder at the rear end of the frame. The frame A, asshown, is in. the form of truss having upper and lower chords withuprights, as (l and (1, and diagonal tie-wires. Near the forward end onthe lower chord are two saddles m and n, to which holding-chords may beattached, the forward one being used for handling the kite when the kiteisnear the ground and the rear one is for the main or lifting line andwhen it is fully up. The wings, as shown, are composed of threesuperposed curved planes B, B, and B on each side of the central framesupported on arms 0, which may be straight, as here shown, or

slightly curved, if desired, one of said arms 7 extending out from theupper chord, the inner ends of the arms fitting into sockets s, fromwhich they are readily removable. The inner ends of the arms may besecuredto the central framework by other means than those here shown orby hinges, as shown in Fig. 3. The wings or planes are formed of ribsI), hav ing a covering of cotton cloth or other suitable fabric tackedto their upper edges. The covering is applied with wires inclosed in theedges in the well-known manner. The upper and lower sets of ribs, asshown. have openings through which pass the "arms 0, which are in theform of flattened oval bars, and the ribs are adapted to slide on thesebars. The intermediate set of ribs are attached to vertical posts (1 d,which are fastened to the upper and lower ribs, forming, with thediagonal tire-wires ff, a series of panels adapted to be folded inagainst the sides of the frame by sliding on the bars 0. Diagonaltie-wires e brace the series of panels in the direction of the arm 0,and the outer ends of the arms are connected by an upright d, which ismade detachable, so that the arm a may be drawn out separately anddisconnected from the kite for convenience in packing.

As shown in Fig. 3, the inner end of the arm a is hinged to a projection0 which extends out from the chord and which is long enough to receiveall of the panels when they are folded against the frame. The hingeconnection of the arm being thus outside of the folded panels, the armmay be folded in against the frame without being removed.

In order to detachably connect the upright d,it is provided at each endwith a fasteningplate d with a lateral recess fitting over a pin 15,which passes through the arm a. The. arm 0 has a slot large enough toreceive the plate (I and to allow the notch 25 to pass over the pin. Theupright d is connected with the folding panels by diagonal tie-wires e,so that it folds in withthe panels whemthe arms are removed.

To furnish a support for the tip of the central wing, I provide a. shortarm 0, which is hinged by its inner end to the nearest upright d, the onterend beingprovided with a notched plate fitting inloa slot in theupright d and engaging a. pin which passes transversely through saidslot. The upright is disconnected from the arms 0 by pulling it slightlyout against the pull of disengaging the plates dt'from the pins 25.

As here shown, the coverings, which form the wings proper, are glued andtacked or otherwise secured to the upper surfaces of the ribs, and thepoints of the wings are stretched and hooked onto suitable fastenii'igsprovided near the ends of the arms cc and c. If desired, the coveringmaybe applied to the lower surfaces of the ribs or to the upper andlower, or both. The inner ends of the wings are tacked to central ribsor ledges 12, secured along the frame A.

As here shown, the ribs, which give form to the wings, are approximatelystraight from the arm 0 to their rear ends, and forward of the arm theycurve down ward,so that the wing I has a greatercurvature at its frontedge than at its rear, the outer than the inner ones. For the purpose ofgiving the kite lateral stability the outer tips of the wings are shownas somewhat above the level of,theiunerends, so that the wings have anupward inclination from the center outward.

For the purpose of giving the kite additional lateraistability when inthe air and for preventing it from diving if canted on its side, also toobtain an advantageous point of attachment for the flying line as wellas for the bracing-guys, I cause the forward end of the central frame,or what might be called the bowsprit, to project for ward beyond theforward edges of the wings. This bowsprit als'o aflords a framework fora keel or vertical support at the front, so thatif the kite turns on itsside the wind gets under the projecting portion of the frame and tendsto support and right it. The frame A is provided with a proper coveringextending from the bowsprit as far back as the rear edges of the wings,the kite being thus steadied and dangerous side movements checked. The

horizontal covering at the top is also shown carried out to the point ofthe bowsprit as a front rudder and additional support.

In order to properly balance the wings on each side, I provide means fortilting or in-' clining the outer ends to a greateror less extent. Ageneral adjustment is made byguys 70, each of which is of the upper arm0 by screw-eyes, as shown in Fig. 2, or by other suitable means. Byadjusting general adjustment of the wings on each side may be made. Amore delicate adjustment the diagonal braces and back against it forribs being less curved accidentallysecnred at the front lower corner ofthe frame A and at the under side the position of these screw eyes acomplished by loosening one of the diagonal tie-wires of the panelandtightening the other. The simple meanshere shown foraccomplishing thisresult are two loops f, adapted to slide on the uprights (1, each of thetwo diagonal tie-wires passing through one of these loops. By slidingboth of these loops up or down the inclination of the ribs to thehorizontal is adjusted with great precision.

For the purpose of holding'the kite at the proper inclination to thewindtI provide a tail or rudder, here shown as consisting of twotriangular planes H and H, extending out at each side of the centralframe, and a vertical plane A, formed by covering the space 'within therear portion of the central frame. The fabric of the planes H and H issecured along the central frame and to out ward-egttendi'ng arms h andh, which are hinged to the central frame, so that they fold conveniencein packing. provided, connecting the pivoted arms h 7L the upper withthe lower, and wire braces t" stay the outer endsof the arms 71 and hThe tail is detachably connected tothe main kite by means of ferrules a,applied to the upper and lower chords of the central frame, and it isotherwise secured by wirebraces 2' j, and j. For the purpose ofrendering-the chords stiiflaterally I secure to them flat-stringers aatapproximately the middle point.

It will, be understood that as many superposed wings asdesired may beused on each side of the center, although I prefer tomake a kite withthree pairs of wings, as here shown.

It will be Uprights h h are mounted on the transverse arm as to slide.

together for the purpose of packing, 650., may be utilized in otherforms of kite.

I claim 1. The herein-described-kite having one or more transverse arms,ribs adapted to slide on said arms, I means for holding the ribsextended on said arms and the covering stretched on said ribs.

2. The herein-described kite havingacentral frame, arms extendinghorizontally out from each side of the frame, v slide on said arms andto fold against said frame, a covering for said ribs and means forholding said ribs extended on said arms and said covering stretched onsaid ribs. I

3. The herein-described kite havingacentral frame, arms extendinghorizontally out purposes it is also capable a covering for said ribsand ribs adapted to from said frame on each side,

one at thetop and one at the bottom of the frame, ribs adapted to slideon said arms, corresponding ribs on the upper and lower arms beingconnected by a framework to form panels adapted to fold against saidcentral-frame, a cov-' erin g for said ribs and means for holding saidpanels extendedon said arms and said cov ering stretched on said ribs.

4:. The

tral frame, arms extending horizontally out from said frame on eachside, one at the top' and one at the bottom of said frame, ribs adaptedto slide on said arms, verticalpostsr connecting corresponding ribs onthe -upper and lower arms and wires forming with .said ribs and postspanels adapted tofold against the said central frame, ribs secured tosaid panel between the t p and bottom members, coverings for said bs andmeans for holding said panels extei ed on said arms and said coveringstretch d on the ribs.

herein-described kite having a cen-f 4 5. The herein-described kitehaving a contralframe, wings projecting out from each side of said frameand tips of said wings with relation to the body of the wings,

6. The hereindescribed kite having acentral vertical frame, wingsprojecting out at each side of said frame composed of arms-at- .tachedto the frame, a series of upright panmeans for tilting the.

elsconneoted with said arms having vertical members composed of postsconnecting said ribs and diagonal tie-wires and loops through which thewires pass adapted to slide on said vertical members to regulate theinclination of said ribs and the inclination of the Wing. Signed atPortland, Maine, this 3d day of May, 1900. I Q r CHARLES H. LAMsoN.

Witnesses:

BENJ. G. WARD, L. M. GODFREY.

